Spieth Questions McIlroy Over His Penalty Drop As Rors Posts Career Lowest Players Opener

2 years ago by Comments Off on Spieth Questions McIlroy Over His Penalty Drop As Rors Posts Career Lowest Players Opener

Jordan Spieth was hardly being co-operative nor comforting in his questioning of Rory McIlroy over the location of his penalty drop after finding water down the left-side of the par-4 seventh hole they were playing as their 15th on the opening day of the Players Championship.

After a long wait on the tee, McIlroy stepped-up and for a second time in 15 holes he sent his drive left hitting a grassy bank and finding water on the host TPC Sawgrass course at Ponte Vedra in Florida.

Earlier, had been seven-under par playing the par-4 18th but also found the water down the left, walking off with a bogey

McIlroy was again tied for the lead at eight-under when TV coverage clearly showing his ball bounce off the side of the seventh hole and landing in the water.  Of course, all haazards are marked in red and the question was whether McIlroy’s ball had landed on the slope outside of the hazard line or inside the line as Spieth seemed to question.

Also involved was the third member of the group – Viktor Hovland.

Though it was Spieth, whose tee-shot went way right, who got really involved motioning that spectators had been advising him the McIlroy’s ball had not crossed the hazard line, and now seriously questioning McIlroy if he sure of the drop he had taken and this despite McIlroy reassuring both Spieth and Hovland, as well as the rules official he was confident his ball had bounced on the right side of the hazard line before finding the water.

Spieth was suggesting whether McIlroy should not be dropping further back down the water’s edge, and back in the direction back towards the tee.

“The TV, all these guys back there are saying they were certain and that’s why I though ‘hey, should we check’, so that you don’t take a wrong drop”, Spieth could be heard in speaking with McIlroy.

McIlroy said: “I want to do the right thing”.

Spieth then said: “I think we all agree that it crossed some land but the problem where the drop is”,

A rules referee then directed a question to both McIlroy and Spieth saying:  “Do you agree with that?”

Spieth then added: “I was looking some 15-yards ahead so when your ball hit ground, I was still looking well ahead.  I agree it hit land but I have no idea where it pitched

The referee then finally resolved what was now a very long discussion saying: “You guys have to go with what you saw”.

And then in reference to what had transpired down the 18th hole, Spieth again seemed to suggest he was also not happy with the circumstances of McIlroy’s drop at that hole remarking: “Again, it’s like 18.  It’s what you guys think there. I’m comfortable it crossed land.  I don’t know where it actually pitched. I have no idea”.

McIlroy responded:  “I agree. I am pretty certain it did pitch above, so ….”. However, Spieth interrupted saying: “Did you drop it on the line where it crossed? “.  McIlroy responded: “I would say that I dropped it probably back from where the ball kicked into the water”.

And also somewhat disappointingly, the coversation between all three players went on for many minutes and all the time McIlroy stood by his ‘penalty ball’ and ready to continue.

It was finally resolved with McIlroy now sounding determined but it didn’t end well as McIlroy posted a double-bogey on route to seven-under-par 65 and sharing the clubhouse lead with American Xander  Schauffele.

However, while Spieth and Hovland left the scorer’s hut avoiding any media contact, McIlroy was asked about the incident down the left side of the seventh hole

“I think Jordan was just trying to make sure that I was doing the right thing”, said a very political correct McIlroy.

“I mean, I was pretty sure that my ball had crossed where I was sort of dropping it. It’s so hard, right, because there was no TV evidence. I was adamant. But I think, again, he was just trying to make sure that I was going to do the right thing.

“If anything, I was being conservative with it. I think at the end of the day we’re all trying to protect ourselves, protect the field, as well. I wouldn’t say it was needless. I think he was just trying to make sure that what happened was the right thing”.

And when McIlroy was advised by Speith and Hovland, who had doubled the last, avoided the media, he replied: “I think so, yeah. I’m comfortable. I think that’s the most important thing”.

McIlroy is teeing-up in a 14th Players Championship, including the cancelled 2020 flagship where just one round was players when growing fears for the Covid-19 virus saw the event cancelled.

His prior best opening score was a six-under 66 on route to a T8th finish in the 2013 Players while he broke 70 as well in shooting an opening 67 on route to victory in 2019.

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